They are not arresting people for smuggling virtual banned agricultural products. They are arresting the vilest of the vile.
I really don't have a problem with these searches and seizures. They are not seizing people's laptops randomly, they are intercepting people for whom they have justifiable, reasonable suspicion of heinous crime. When you go overseas, you are leaving the protection of our Constitution, and it is no more unreasonable for them to search a laptop than it is for them to search a suitcase when you are re-entering (but have not yet re-entered) the country.
“Every single person who has been arrested as a result of these Port of Entry laptop seizures”
Really, do you happen to have a source on that. I seem to recall stories of business travelers who lost their business laptop on the whim of some customs jerk.
“I really don’t have a problem with these searches and seizures. “
I have a problem with their statements that the Constitution doesn’t apply to American citizens.
“When you go overseas, you are leaving the protection of our Constitution”
Sure, but this story is about when the person is back on American soil. Seems they already had justification for a search warrant and could easily have obtained one for the secondary searches.
It’s also about a DOJ that wants to give our enemies more rights than they want to give US citizens.
You have absolutely no clue whatsoever about what you speak and you should remain silent. Where in the world did you get the idea that the only laptops seized are for child pornography?
Then have a warrant.
In hand. When you “arrest” the laptop.
Sorry, driftdiver, for mis-attributing the quote above in my prior posting.
La Lydia, which clauses of the Constitution permit the U.S. government to violate the rights of citizens when they are outside the country?
Wow! I did not know that!
You are in possession of knowledge that the rest of us didn't have! How about a ****ing link to support this amazing revelation. La Lydia, this place is not a complete crank's holiday.
Support your assertions.
“Every single person who has been arrested as a result of these Port of Entry laptop seizures, without exception, has been charged with child pornography. I have been told that some of the child pornography involved murder.”
Let’s say your statement is true (not very likely!!!!) the single picture that was described as found on the suspect’s laptop does not sound like evidence of a “child pornographer” or one who is contributing to such. The line between healthy eroticism and pornography may be a fine one in some cases but most people admit they can tell the difference when asked and do not confuse the two just to make a case.
If the “evidence” in this case is an admissible standard for pornographic “contraband” then they should confiscate the digital images of the cover of the swimsuit issue of sports illustrated from all inbound travelers that arrive with it in their possession.
Isn’t this an issue of over-zealous bureaucrats justifying their reaction to a traveler’s not-so-abnormal nervous reaction towards their zealous attempts to find something incriminating in his possession? Having started down that road the bureaucrats HAD to produce something, some argument to make the effort appear “justifiable”.
There are many zealots in the U.S. Department of Justice, who define “justice” as simply making a prosecution, even when the honest investigation might have suggested that JUSTICE was that there really was no case. Too many believe that finding that truth does not justify their existence in the way they believe making a prosecution does.
I agree 100%. Well stated.
You are absolutely lieing your ass off on FR using a “its fur da chilrun” argument to defend the destruction of the natural born rights and Constitutional protections that are the basis of this country.
Ban yourself now.
Or we’ll hound you until you read up on the actual case history as recorded by the EFF and ACLU.
And, when participating in a Tea Party is considered treason or sedition?